Save the Last Dance

侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) – Alexandra Konstantinovna Kosteniuk

2nd Tech Mahindra Global Chess League; Group Stage; Alpine SG Pipers – Triveni Continental Kings; time control: 20 minutes per player without increment; London, October 4, 2024

Caro-Kann B12

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 c5. The so-called Botvinnik-Carls Variation.
4. Nf3 cxd4 5. Nxd4 Nc6 6. Nxc6 bxc6 7. Bd3 e6 8. 0-0 a5 9. Nd2 Ne7 10. Nf3 Ba6. Apparently 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) is not at her ease with the “Botvinnik-Carls algorithm”; just take a look at 10. ... Qb6 11. Re1 Ba6 12. Be3 c5 13. Bxa6 Rxa6 14. c4 d4 15. Bd2 Nc6 16. Rb1 Be7 17. Re4 h6 18. Ne1 Ra7 19. Qg4 g6 20. Nd3 Nb4 21. Bxb4 axb4 22. Ra1 h5 23. Qe2 Kd7 24. Rf4 Rf8 25. h3 Qc6 26. Rf3 g5 27. Rg3 Rh8 28. Rf3 Ke8 29. Ne1 Bd8 30. Rd3 Bc7 31. a3 Qb7 32. Rb3 Qa6 33. Rd1 Ba5 34. axb4 Bxb4 35. Nc2 Qa4 36. Rf3 g4 37. Rg3 gxh3 38. Rxh3 h4 39. b3 Qa5 40. Nxb4 Qxb4 41. Qe4 Qb7 42. Rxh4 Qxe4 43. Rxe4 Ke7 44. Rf4 Rb8 45. Rd3 Ra1+ 46. Kh2 Rb1 47. Rff3 Rb2 48. Kg3 Rg8+ 49. Kh2 Rb1 50. Rg3 Rh8+ 51. Rh3 Rg8 52. Rdf3 Re1 53. Rh7 Rf8 54. Rh5 Re4 55. Rg3? Rf4 56. f3?? (a sad epilogue to a non-exemplary game) 56. ... d3 0–1 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) – Gunina, 4th Blitz “Tournament of Stars”, Moscow 2024 (time control: 3 minutes plus 2 seconds).
11. Bxa6 Nxa6 12. c4 Nf5 13. Qa4 Qd7 14. Bd2 Be7 15. Rac1 d4

16. Rfe1. Other moves, such as 16. c5 and/or 16. b4, appear to be more coherent (at least from a strategic perspective).
16. ... c5 17. Qb5 Ra7 18. Qb3. 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) fiddles and fidgets with her Queen, barely getting it to a purposeful place.
18. ... Rb7 19. Qa3 a4 20. Rc2 0-0 21. Qd3 Nh4

22. Ng5?! A wild adventure. She ought to have exchanged Knights, contenting herself with a sustainable uncomfortability.
22. ... Bxg5 23. Bxg5 Ng6 24. h4! She who says A must say B.
24. ... h6 25. h5 hxg5 26. hxg6 fxg6 27. Qxg6 Rf5 28. g4! This move appears to be her best practical chance under the circumstances, for after 28. f3 Qf7 Black would force the exchange of Queens with a very superior endgame.

28. ... Rf3!? Now Kosteniuk overlooks the stronger 28. ... Rf4! 29. Qxg5 (29. f3 Qf7 is no better) 29. ... d3! 30. Rd2 Qd4 which would have given Black an overwhelming advantage.
29. Qxg5 Qe7? Haunted by time, Black lets her opponent escape out of her hands. More consistent was 29. ... Qc6! threatening both a mating attack with ... Rf3-h3 and the doubling of Rooks on the f-file.
30. Qxe7 Rxe7 31. Re4 g5 32. Kg2 Ref7 33. Rd2 Kg7 34. Re1 R3f4 35. Kg3 Rf3+ 36. Kg2 R3f4 37. Kg3 ½–½.

They were ancient rivals, and both wore the crown of Caïssa. Photos: Michał Walusza/Tech Mahindra Global Chess League.